1930s: A Single Chicago Death; Part of a Rash of Deaths in Oklahoma City

Mamie Ethel Crowell, age 20, died on April 14, 1930, in the office of Dr. Hans Paulsen, from an abortion performed on her that day. Two days later, Paulsen was booked for manslaughter by abortion. The father of the baby, Uriah Denniston, was booked as accessory. Paulson was held by the Coroner for murder by abortion. Denniston wasn't mentioned in the verdict. On September 1, the indictment was quashed. The source notes "Circumstances suggesting judicial corruption."

Dr. Richard Thacker

Two years later, on April 14, 1932, 21-year-old Mrs. Isabelle Ferguson died of suspected abortion complications. Two physicians in the University of Oklahoma area, J. W. Eisiminger and Richard E. Thacker, were suspected in the case. Thacker and Eisiminger were not ordinary doctors who just did abortions on a few patients. They were abortionists, and quack abortionists at that. Singly or as a pair they were implicated in a string of deaths:

• February 26, 1929: Marie Epperson
• March 19, 1932: Geraldine Easley

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  Dr. J.W. Eisiminger

  April 3, 1932: Ethel Hestland
• April 15, 1932: Ruth Hall
• April 23, 1932: Robbie Lou Thompson
• April 24, 1932: Virginia Lee Wyckoff and Lennis May Roach
• April 25, 1932: Nancy Joe Lee

Thacker was sentenced to life in prison for Ruth Hall's death. His attorney announced an immediate motion for an appeal, on the grounds that Thacker's other abortions should not have been admitted as testimony.